4. Leadership

Directors serve as members of the GSF Board of Directors as a representative of their home member association’s Board of Directors and serve a term of three (3) years. The initial schedule to provide for staggered terms of office is provided in Addendum G. A Director may serve a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms, and must retire from the Board for a period of at least one (1) year before he/she is eligible to serve on the Board again. Directors elected to officer positions shall not be subject to this regulation during their tenure as officers.

Member Associations are responsible for providing a representative to the Board of Directors, and notifying the GSF Executive Director of the appointment. It is recommended that the representative is a board member, a past-president or an ex-officio member of the Member Association board as the representative must be able to communicate regularly and efficiently with the Member Association’s board.

All member associations have voting privileges. All member associations have a single representative who has a voice in GSF Board of Director meetings.

As per the bylaw Article VI Section 8, only Directors who appear in person, via video conferencing or similar digital platform, or has appointed their proxy may vote at GSF Board of Director meetings.

The GSF President has an annual budget for travel to member association events. GSF Member Associations are responsible for covering certain costs for the GSF President, or their designate, to attend their annual Convention including: convention (including gala or awards dinner), hotel accommodation, airport transfers, and any other event-related fees. The host Association will cover other costs as they deem reasonable and appropriate.

Where a member association has an annual convention for their members and would like the President of the GSF, or failing that for practical reasons, another representative of the GSF Presidential Leadership Team, to be in attendance, the following considerations noted below need to be made.

The GSF President, or their designated representative, will visit the association’s annual event to support the leadership and educate the association's membership about the value and benefits of GSF membership. To that end, the President, or their designate, will give a presentation at the convention. A suitable time slot on the program is desired.

• There is a line item in the GSF budget for the travel expenses of the GSF President from their home location to the association’s convention city.

• GSF Presidents should know where and when each Member association will be holding their convention and if the GSF President (or designate) has been invited to attend. This is required for that person’s own personal and business responsibilities and to coordinate international travel requirements including where appropriate, best possible airfares, the applications of visas and/or other travel documents. Ideally, Member associations should at make their request to the President or their designate twelve months in advance, or no less then six months prior to the event date.

• The inviting association should be prepared to cover the following expenses of the President or their designate:
  • Convention Registration
  • Reservations for the gala or awards dinner
  • Lodging accommodations for the duration of the convention and related events (minimum of three nights, preferably at the same venue.)

• Where possible, the host association should organize transportation to/from the appropriate airport to the hotel. Should any other events or off-site trips be part of the program, it should be indicated to the President or his/her designate, if that event is included or not.

• As early as possible, the inviting association should confirm the following information.
  • When and where the convention will be held.
  • If there are additional events to which the GSF President, or their designate, is invited, for example special private parties for volunteers, international guest’s events, CSP-only events, then that information should be conveyed. Should they be scheduled on a day before or after the formal convention program, then that night’s accommodation should also be covered.
  • Whether the President will be collected from and returned to the airport or whether they need to make other arrangements.
  • Which meals, including breakfasts, will or will not be covered by the accommodation booking or the program.
  • An additional presentation by the President, or their designate, on their own field of expertise, is an additional opportunity that can be negotiated where appropriate.
  • Should it be desirable for the President, or their designate, to be a judge on a speaking competition, to be involved in handing out awards, or for them to be introduced to sponsors of the convention, that information is required before the event so that the President, or their designate, can prepare adequately.
  • Provide the contact details of the convention convener and anyone else who may be on the team to make arrangements for international guests.

• Should the association not have the budget to cover a visit from the GSF President, or their designate, or should the association not be planning to hold an in-person annual convention, then the President remains available to meet with the membership of the association via an online platform either at an online or a hybrid event.

No member of the GSF Board of Directors, or any of its Committees, shall derive any personal profit or gain, directly or indirectly, by reason of their participation in the leadership of GSF. Each individual shall disclose to the GSF any personal interest which he or she may have in any matter pending before the GSF and shall refrain from participation in any decision on such matter.

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